Radio mast holder



I RADIO MAST HOLDER Filed April 16, 1924 2 smu -sheet 1 E. INGHAM RADIO MAST HOLDER Nov. 27, 1928.

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1924 a MM Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

* UNITED STATES 1,693,298 PATENT OFFICE.

mmrm. INGEAI, or wasrmweron, marine-r 01.0mm;-

' RADIO user nonpna.

' Application filed April 18,

This invention relates to staff or mast holders and a-rticularl to a device whereby a mast suitab ie for use or supporting a radio aerial may be mounted. upon an ordinary I chimney. A

The general ob'ect of the invention is to provide a strong, reproof, and substantially storm proof device which may be readily attached to the top of any of the ordinary styles of existing chimneys without in an we multilating the same, and which w'l rigidly and permanently sup ort a radio mast. Further and more speclfib objects will hereinafter appear.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawin s, forming part of this specification and illustrating several embodiments of the invention. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of an improved supporting bracket which I have devised;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a plan view ofa second or auxiliary bracket which I employ in connection with that shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 5 isa vertical sectional view showing a chimney with a mast mounted therein and supported by the two brackets illustrated in Figures 1 to 4;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail similar to Figure 5, but showing a slightly modified construction;

Figures 6 and 7 are Ian and side views respectively of a simpli ed form of supporting bracket which may be employed in some cases;

Figure 8 is a plan view similar to Figure.

support the mast on the outside of a chim- Figure 9 is aside elevation thereof;

Figure 10 isa lan view, partly in section showing an auxi iary bracket designed to be employed in connection with the bracket shown in Figures 8 and 9, the chimney be: ing indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a still difi'erent construction of supporting bracket which is ada ted to encircle a chimney;

Flgure 12 is a side elevation showing a mast su ported on a chimney by means of the brac et illustratedin' Figure 11 and an auxiliary or lower bracket, the chimney being indicated in dotted lines, and

dicated .at 4 in Figure 1, and adapted to 1, but showing a bracket so constructed as to 1924. Serial in. 706,861. I

or auxiliary bracket appearing in Figure 12,

the mast being shown in section. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, and 0 more particularl to Figures 1 to 5, a chimney is designate by the letter K, and a staff or mast referably' formed of iron pipe, and of suitab e height, is shown at C. Thismast is supported within the chimney flue by means of a pair of independent brackets of 1al construction designated in their ent retlty by the characters A and B, respective y. v

The main or upper bracket A, as shown in Figure 1, comprises four sections designated a, b, c, and (1, each section com rising two portions or arms disposed at rig t angles to each other, so that the sections when assembled form a rectangular frame. In crosssection, this frame is of the shape of an angle iron and comprises a horizontal member or flange 1 and a vertical member or flange 2. Each section is provided at one end with an offset extension 3, slotted as inreceive a bolt 5 passing loosely through the slot and set into the underlying section. By virtue of this construction the bracket or frame as a whole is expansible and may be adjusted to different sizes so as to accommodate itself to the variations in the sizes of the flue openings into which it is to be fitted. After the sections have been properly adjusted to the desired size they may be clamped together by tightening up the bolts 5, as will be obvious.

One or more of the sections of the bracket or frame carries a mast receiving socket (3, provided with a set screw 7, such socket preferably beinglocated at the corner of the angular section. As shown in Figure 1, both the sections a and c are shown as provided v with mast receiving sockets, so that two masts of the arms 8,

beadjusted longitudinally members 9 ma) may be clamped in adjusted position. In order to hold the members 8 and 9 in rigid alinement, they are provided with an intermembers 9 are enlarged or flattened, as

' ing to the present invention I proceed as follows. I rst insert the mast t rough the shown at 12, in order to provide an extended bearing surface. At the junction of the arms 8 is a mast receiving socket 13 provided I Under'some conditions, where the aerlal with a set screw 14. v

In the actual installation of a mast accordsocket 6 in the main bracket A and then insert i its lower end through'the socket 13 in the It will be further note lower or auxiliary bracket B and secure such lower bracket rigidly to the mast b means of the set screw 14. The two brac ets are then adjusted until they will justsnuglyfit within, the chimney flue and. the mast the bracket B attached is then lowered into the flue. Meanwhile the upper bracketg ia seated on the upper end of the flue, as shown in Figure 5, the flange 1 resting upfon the top of the chinmey and the flange 2 fitting within'the flue opening I tially engaging the side vw and substanls thereof at several points. The lowering of the mastis continued until the bracket B is positioned at a considerable distance below the chimney top, a distance of two or threefeet having been found satisfactory. After the mast has been lowered to the desired point,.it is then clamped in position by tightening up the set screw 7 carried by the bracket A.

It will be observed that by virtue of my improved construction the mast is rigidly held in upright position, being braced or anchored at twowidel separated points.

i d that although the mast is strongly and rigidly clamped to the chimney thereis no undue strain imposed upon the chimney at any one point, and it will be especially apparent that the load is distributed around and over the entire chimney top where the bricks are sometimes apt to be loose. My improved bracket A, resting as it does upon the to most bricks and fitting within the flue, ten s to retain the upper' bricks in position and to strengthen and reinforce the chimneEy top. At the sametime, by reference to igure 1 it will be seen that the flue opening is restricted .or obstructed to only a negligible extent.

As for the lower bracket, the arms 8 bear against two adjacent walls, while the bear-' in surfaces 12 at the ends of these arms su stantially engage the other two walls, thus positively preventing movement of this bracket in any direction. It will be further observed that this lower bracket B is carried and supported wholly by the mast itself, the

two brackets being connected only by the and bytlghtening the bolts mastf Thus the brackets may be set at any desired apart as conditionsmay reqmm- The mast G may be of any suitable height,

' such 'as six to ten feet, and carries at its top is attached at its other end to a tree, pole or other 'su port of sufiicient 'hei ht, the mast 0 may a made very short, an indeed, may in .someinstances, be a mere stub, serving only to afiord'ananchorage. In some cases, thelower bracket-B may be-unnecessary, but the characteristic advantage of my invention will nevertheless be present,-

the usual insulator carrying.

namel the distribution of the strain over I the w ole chimney top.

Instead of clamping the mast to the upper bracket b shown in i ures .1 to 5, I may construct the -mast to sli e freely through the socket 6 and hold it in the desired vertical position means of the set screw ,7,. as'

bymeans'of an adjustable collar 15 held in position by a set screw 15 (see Figure 5),

which collar simply rests upon the socket 6. i In some cases where the chimney top is constructed of tile or is otherwise of accurate standard dimensions,.a 0 piece bracket comprising anintegral cast metal frame A, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 may be employed in place'of'the expansible frame illustrated in igur'esl and 2.

While I have sofar illustrated and described means for supporting a mast inside of; a chimney flue, the-same general principle may beemployed for'mounting the maston the outside of .the chininey' if so desired. This is shown in Fi es- 8,.."9"and 10. In these figures I'have i1 ustrated an adjustable or expansible rectangular; frame similar to .that shown in Figure*-.1,bfit" comprising sections at, b, c, d, each-formed of a horizontal flange 1 and ayertic'al flange 2', such .vertical flan e in thiscase being'at the outer edge of the rame and adapted to fit'over the outside walls ofthe chimneytopi The mast receiving socket 16 projects outwardly from the frame, preferably at onecorner thereof,

and isfprovided with aset' screw 17.

bent at right angles, as shown at22, and are equipped with pointed clamping screws 22 adapted to'bi-te into the side walls of the chimne as will be obvious. 1A mast receiving soc et 23 provided with-a set screw 24 I over clamping bolts 21. ';The extreme en s of the extensions 19 are is formed at the junction of the arms 18 and lies immediately beneath the socket 16. It is thought that the method of applying these brackets will be obvious without further discussion.-

While in the previous figures I have shown and described a supporting bracket adapted to rest upon the top of a chimney, I consider it within the spirit of my invention to employ supporting brackets which engage the side walls of the chimney only, without resting upon the top thereof. This is shown in Figures 11 to 13 inclusive. In these figures the upper bracket comprises a hoop or band composedpf a pair of opposed U-shaped members 25 and 26 arranged with their ends slotted and overlapping so as to be adjustable, and secured together by means of clamping bolts 27. This band is adapted to encircle the chimney at any desired point, and is held in position by means of a plurality of pointed set screws 28, four of such screws being shown. 'To one side of the band, as for example, to the member 25, is secured a mast receiving socket 29 equipped with a set screw 30.

The lower bracket 31 is of somewhat similar construction, but does not necessarily encircle the chimney. As shown in Figure 13 this lower bracket comprises simply a U-shaped member having its ends 32 bent at right angles and provided with pointed set screw 32 adapted to bite into opposite side walls of the chimney." It carries a mast receiving socket 33 provided with a set screw 34.

In all of the modifications herein illustrated and described it will be seen that the mast is supported on the chimney by means of the independent brackets at two widely separated points, thus insuring sufiicient strength and rigidity to withstand all strains to which it may be subjected.

While I have illustrated the angular bracket members shown in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, as formed of cast iron or the like, I also contemplate, as within the scope of my invention, forming these brackets from sheet or wrought metal bent or pressed into shape. It may be stated, however, that the heavier these brackets are, the better they will function, since the weight tends to increase the stability of the structure.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a mast, of a bracket attached to and extending at right angles to said mast, a second bracket extending parallel with the first but spaced therefrom, said second bracket being secured directl to and carried wholly by the lower end 0 said mast, and said brackets being adapted to engage the side walls of a vertical structure at separated points thereof to rigidly support the mast.

2. The combination with a mast, of a bracket attached to and extending at right .bracket being secured directly to and carried wholly by said mast, and said brackets being adapted to engage the side walls of a rectangular vertical structure at separated points thereof to support the mast.

3. The combination with a mast, of means for' mounting the same inside of a vertical hollow structure, without substantially restricting the interior thereof, said means comprising a pair of mast supporting arms extending horizontally from the mast, said arms lying in the same plane but disposed at an angle to each other and adapted to rest upon the top of such structure, and a second member adapted to enga e the side walls thereof at a plurality of separated points, and carried wholly by the lower end of said mast.

4. The combination with a mast, of a bracket therefor com rising a socket, and a pair of arms exten ing from said socket at right angles to each other and to the mast, each arm being L-shaped in cross-section and adapted to engage the top and side wall of a vertical structure, and a second bracket also comprising a mast receiving socket and a pair of arms extendin parallel with those of the first bracket, an adapted to engage the side walls of the vertical structure, said second bracket being secured to the mast at a point below the first.

5. A mast holder for chimneys comprising a bracket having a socket to receive the mast, and a pair of arms extending from said socket at right angles to each other, each of said arms havin a horizontal portion to rest on the top of t e chimney, and a vertical portion to enga the inside wall thereof.

6. A mast hol er for chimneys comprising an open frame ada ted to fit within and engage the side wal s of the chimney flue, said frame having a horizontal portion adapted to rest upon the top of the chimney, and a mast receiving socket carried by said frame adjacent one side thereof.

7. A device for supporting a wire from a chimney or the like, comprising an angular frame constructed to rest on the top edge ofthe chimney and e'ngagc two adjacent side walls thereof substantially throughout their length, whereby the strain is distributed over a large area, and wire anchoring means carried b said frame.

In testimony whereof I aili x my signature.

EMANUEL INGHAM. 

